Have You Considered Fecal Microbiota Transplantation? Poop Transplants

I don’t have UC. I’m a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon, and one of my focuses is Ulcerative Colitis.

Fecal Microbiota Transplant

As a student clinician at the National College of Natural Medicine, one of my mentors was Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis, an ND who specializes in treating people with inflammatory bowel disease. While doing research to help one of our patients, I stumbled across what is now known as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT, aka fecal transplant). In my research, it seemed like the only thing that UC patients could do that could potentially allow them to lead a completely normal lifestyle: no symptoms, no meds, no dietary restrictions.
Some people have success doing it at home, but others only have success with the more intensive supervision available in an in-patient setting. As far as I know, the only place offering it for UC patients at that time was the Center for Digestive Diseases in Sydney, Australia. They are the world leaders in this procedure, doing over 100 FMTs per year.
I wanted to make in-patient FMT available in the US, and my clinic is offering our first 5-day colon health retreat in January! In addition to daily FMT, I apply other interventions to control the pain and inflammation, and to increase the odds of the treatment lasting, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, some appropriate pharmaceutical interventions, and mind/body medicine techniques.
Feel free to email me if you have questions (mark@brightmedicineclinic.com) or check out the website: FecalMicrobiotaTransplantation.com (or the easier-to-remember ProbioticInfusion.com)
Best wishes to all of you!
Mark Davis, ND

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Hey UC’ers (It’s Adam Here, the colitis dude who tries to main the IHAVEUC website. I wrote several questions to Mark, when I saw his Colitis Venting Story Submitted, and he was kind enough to give some great answers to all of my questions about what he is involved with. Below are the questions I asked him, and his answers.

1: What is the success rate for people who use this type of therapy?

Well, first of all I should explain that this therapy has gone by a lot of different names in the past decade, including “fecal transplant,” “fecal bacteriotherapy,” and “human probiotic infusion,” but the new official name is “fecal microbiota transplantation,” or FMT. It’s mostly used for people who have C difficile colitis, and it’s about 90% effective for that. The world champion of using this technique for UC is a medical doctor named Thomas Borody, at the Center for Digestive Diseases in Sydney, Australia, and according to his published work, when he uses FMT for people with UC, he gets about a 50% success rate. By success, I mean drug-free, symptom-free, diet restriction-free people who have no evidence of UC when they get colonoscopy with biopsies. A small percent of people do relapse after years, but most are still symptom-free when they check back years or decades later. Among other studies Dr. Borody has published, there’s one from 2003 called “The treatment of ulcerative colitis using fecal bacteriotherapy” which highlights a 5-day technique using enema infusion, similar to what I’m offering. I’ve talked with Dr. Borody recently, and he says that since his published work, he’s refined the technique, and he claims a better than 90% success rate with UC patients. I haven’t been to his clinic, but I’m following his new protocols. I personally am very new to the technique, I have treated exactly one person with this therapy. The first time it didn’t work–if anything it flared her. The second time we set up a kind of retreat setting for her, and the treatment held, she was not cured but about 90% better. This inspired me to set up these retreats for people to come to, and I’m holding the very first one in late January. By the way, if you go to the “research” section on my website (probioticinfusion.com) you can look at the full text of that study I mentioned above.

2. What would be the average costs associated with moving forward with this type of therapy?

Well, anywhere from pretty much free to about $20,000, lol.
There have been UC sufferers who’ve taken poo from the diaper of a baby (child or grandchild), mixed it in a ziplock bag with some water, drawn it up into a bulb syringe, squirted it up their rear, and had almost immediate relief lasting up to 10 years! However, that method does not work for everyone. There are some people who don’t respond to that, but who do respond to treatment in a clinical setting. Why? Part of it may just be the context which allows you to lie horizontally for five days and retain the treatment. Part of it may be pharmaceutical management, which is part of what I offer. I should mention, Dr. Borody’s clinic prescribes 7-10 days of 2 or 3 powerful antibiotics preceding the FMT treatment, which I will not recommend to most people. Antibiotics are in my scope of practice, and I have prescribed them for people with very bad infections, but I don’t view UC as an infectious condition, I view it as an imbalance. As a naturopathic doctor, I provide some non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, herbal treatments, acupuncture, specialized abdominal massage, personalized nutrition and mind/body medicine therapies during the retreat. My 5-day retreats cost $2600 if you bring your own donor (who must be screened for about $650 worth of lab test first) or $3500 if you want to use a donor from our pre-screened donor bank. The Center for Digestive Diseases charges different amounts for different people, but one UC patient reported spending $10,000 plus the cost of a ticket to Sydney, and one person estimated his total costs at $20,000. I break down what the costs are for on the “expenses” page of my website.

3. Does insurance cover any portion of this type of therapy?

As far as I know, no insurance company covers this.

4. How many patients has your clinic worked with so far, how many of them had UC?

I’ve worked with plenty of UC patients (a passion of mine), and suggested FMT to probably half a dozen, but–due to the “yuck factor” only one patient has taken the treatment so far. Now that I’ve set up these retreats (first one in January) I’m hoping to have the opportunity to treat a lot more people using this therapy.

5. Are there any situations where you would not recommend this type of therapy to a UC patient, if so, what ar the details for those cases?

If you are in a flare that is so bad that you might be seriously dehydrated, hypotensive, or severely anemic…I’m not an ER doc, I’m a naturopath, so I don’t want to treat people in emergency situations! If you’re having so much urgency and frequency that you couldn’t retain the treatments, there’s less chance of it working, although there are things I can do with pharmaceuticals, herbs, and nutrition to slow down the urgency and frequency, if you are already at the most stable level your gastroenterologist can get you to. In general, I will only work with someone who is already working with a gastroenterologist, and my preference is to send a letter to gastroenterologists after the procedure letting them know how the process has gone. Also, if someone wants to do the FMT retreat, I have them sign a release of records form so I can look at their previous medical records and confirm their diagnosis of UC.

6. What are some of the negative side effects that some patients might experience after the therapy?

Great question! There are no known negative side-effects. Interestingly enough, obese people with pre-diabetes who get FMT from lean donors with healthy blood sugar experience positive changes in their blood-work. Also, depressed rats who get FMT from happy rats get significantly happier, and some people who’ve had FMT for C difficile colitis have had their autoimmune and other diseases (MS, ITP, Parkinson’s disease) disappear, so donors from our donor bank are not only screened for infectious disease, but they are lean, healthy people with no mood disorders or history of autoimmune or other disease. See the reference page on my website for links to studies demonstrating all of the above.

7. Are there any long term potential side effects?

There are none known.

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If you have any questions, feel free to leave comments below, Dr. Mark will get notified and will be able to respond directly on the website.

About Bright Medicine

I don't have UC. I'm a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon, and one of my focuses is UC.

59 Responses to Have You Considered Fecal Microbiota Transplantation? Poop Transplants

We are interested in this. Our 3 yr old has UC and I think his case would make for a good case study as well. You might check out our blog, and please contact us to see how we might arrange this and when.

Hi Troy
I’ve so far only used FMT with adults, but there’s no reason it shouldn’t work for kids. In fact, we have a kid donor in our donor bank who might be perfect! There could be some challenges working out the logistics with a 3yo, but I’d be happy to brainstorm with you.
Our website has a lot of information, and if you have any questions, feel free to call or email:mark@brightmedicineclinic.com
971.231.4325
probioticinfusion.com

Troy,
Wondering if you have found a doctor to work with your 3yr old in regards to the FMT? Our son just turned 5 and was diagnosed with moderate to severe UC at age 3-1/2. We are searching for someone with experience in pediatric FMT, which I understand is very rare. Have you made any progress? Any information would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Hoping the best for your son and strength for your family!
Pamela

Pamela (and Troy),
Since I last replies to Troy, I’ve worked with several kids with IBD: a 2yo with UC, an 8 yo with UC, and a 10yo with Crohn’s colitis. The 8yo did not respond at all, the 2yo had a big quality of life jump, and the 10yo is undergoing treatment right now, and is so far responding very well. I’ve also done some distance consulting for a few other children.
Warm regards,
Mark

I know the FDA is now requiring an IND approval for this therapy. Have you already applied and how long does the approval process take? My 5 year old daughter tested positive for UC but the colonoscopy showed indicators of Crohns. last August. It has unfortunately gotten worse. We are very interested in FMT as a form of treatment for her. Thank you for your response!

If this could help, I would definately consider this. My GI in St Louis actually mentioned this the other day. I wouldn’t have any problem doing this treatment if it worked, would even consider doing it to myself. As long as I don’t have to swallow it, haha.

Hi Blake,
Our clinic is starting to provide them, with out first 5-day retreat taking place in January. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email:mark@brightmedicineclinic.com
971.231.4325
probioticinfusion.com

Trials need to be done in the UK. The UK is far behind other countries in trials and treatment.
Please bring this trial here. It looks very exciting and will give people with UC a life back that they have lost.

Im booked in already for 3rd feb 2012 at Dr Borodys clinic in Sydney for a fecal transplant, as I keep having severe reoccorant C Diff. I will let you know how it goes!!! (my mum is going to be the donor :)

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Take Care and TAKE ACTION NOW!! Nothing changes by doing the same thing over and over!!

I left you a vm mark .I am interested in this very much so . please contact me 786-472-0420. My doctor has fecal fear and insists on trying 3 different drugs before he “even considers this”. to me this makes more sense. at one point I was perfectly healthy. 2008 I had my wisdom teeth removed and developed an infection in my jaw. Oral surgeon prescribed amoxicillin. Got c-diff and was in denial .I waited 6 weeks before checking in to the hospital . by then the cdiff had dome allot of damage . I was on IV for 9 days with antibiotics. steroids and lactated ringers and a nurse constantly checking my sugar levels. I went from 250 lbs chubby to 195 in 40 days. Since then I have taken lialda 4 a day and have done about 5 cycles of prednisone . i had been in a drug free remission for about 1 year when i caught a bad stomach virus like a month ago . I am now back to square one . back on prednisone 40mg tapering down. and 4 lialda a day . I ride 8 miles on my bike a day . I have done a tone of research on FMT. I think this could be the super drug for many other diseases in the future. I was thinking of doing the transplant using my 5 year olds feces. but here is my view. since our feces is basically an organ i would think that having a donor that matches your parameters as close as possible would be ideal . the bacteria used to process testosterone in a man immune system would be different . I know there is still a huge gray area of microbes that are not understood as well as beneficial fungi. right now the most bacteria Ive found in a pro-biotic is 20 varieties. considering that the average human has 400-1000 different bacteria in there body that doesnt really help much does it . Being a plant enthusiast, and understand the symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizae and Trichoderma and all bacilli and the list goes on etc.. . I know how important these bacteria are to plants . I know there are at least ten times as many bacteria as human cells in the body. this mean we are more bacteria than we are human genetics. so why wouldn’t this be the answer to our ibd problems?Im sure tons of other human diseases can be resolved with bacterial therapies. It seems like there a new commercial every day for some sort of condition. i guess im just re-establishing how stupid our society has become to natural solutions that make sense. Most doctors would rather try poison to solve problems. Caused by poison in the first place. if you feel like venting or need to talk to someone call me or email me . Jpdreibel@gmail.com

Hi,
Interesting that you should ask that! When you originally wrote this comment I would have said no, but I recently read this paper (http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2180-12-94.pdf) which makes me think that there may be a benefit to using a donor with the same blood type. In just the past month, we’ve started to match patietns and donors by blood type, although it’s too soon to know yet if we’re getting any difference in outcomes.
Best,
Mark Davis, ND

I had C. Diff for eleven months controlled, but not cured, by Vancomycin. Had outpatient cholonoscopy in April, 2012, with fecal matter from my best friend placed throughout the colon. I am cured. Can’t believe this is not the being done more often. Medicare pays for the colonoscopy for me and my doctor does not charge for anything other than the colonoscopy. To me it’s a no brainer. I have thirty years in the medical field and blood transfusions used to be considered right up there with witchcraft. We’re evolving and don’t let the idea of someone else’s poop in your colon turn you off. It’s a basic, down and dirty procedure that works 90+% of the time. If the only way to cure my C. Diff was by eating poop I would do it in a second. If you have never had this super bug consider yourself very, very lucky! It’s unbelievably debilitating.

There was a medical program on PBS radio Sunday (6/23/12) on this subject.
They were interviewing 2 docs. doing extensive research on this at John Hopkins.
Said it is virtually a guarantee to work for c-diff &they feel it will most likely do the same in a high % of people with crohns & UC.

hello,good day to you sir/doc
i had 2 hospitalizations requiring extensive hydration bec of severe diarrhea……after an extensive lab and tests done…….ct scan of the abdomen (result,negative for ulcers), colonoscopy of the intestines (negative ),stool exams, negative for parasites…etc
juz after a weeks rests, here i am having diarrhea again….
i am open to this fecal transplantation idea bec it makes sense,finally,im so glad i readof this procedure…..my question is…..Do you have any idea if this is done already in the philippines?? or any information of philippine gastroenterologist performing this procedure??? and in what hospitals sir????inquired but to no avail….i would have wanted so much to go to your clinic for the therapy but it would costs sooo much to go to the states….not to mention the fees…….im kinda desperate to be cured……pls update me sir/doc…….thanks so much………….Dr.Bernadette Go,Philippines

Hi Bernadette,
I don’y know of any Philippine gastroenterologists doing FMT, but there are definitely some people self-administering at home who see a lot of benefit from it. If you’d like more info, I might be able to offer some helpful advice. Email info@brightmedicineclinic.com to set up an appointment to talk.
Best,
Mark

Try metronidazole (flagyl, cheap antibiotics) IV or oral, or vancomycin (only oral !, but very expensive).
If your symptoms disappear then the chance is big that you have an infection with clostridium difficile in your colon. C diff causes incredible diarrhea and dehydratation.
Regards,
Lana

Not being done in Boston that I know of, but there is a doc in your neck of the woods doing FMT for UC. His name is Lawrence Brandt, he’s a gastroenterologist in New York. You can click on his name on my website (probioticinfusion.com) to get his contact info.
Best,
Mark

I have a question for anyone who would know the answer. Someone in my family is part of a clinical trial in Canada for FMT to treat UC. This trial performs it once a week for 6 weeks. He just finished his fifth week and hasnt had that much of a resolution in symptoms. He is off the predisone now and is not on any meds. Although he still gets cramping every day, fatigue, and many bathroom visits and diarrhoea. I thought by now it would be working better. I have herd that it takes a few months after the clinical trial to actually take effect so the bacteria have time to replicate, is this true? He does have some good days where he feels better, and he has had no blood in the stool at all since beginning the clinical trial but thats about it. We thought for sure it would work because we and his dr are like 90% sure he got it from taking too many antibiotics when getting his wisdom teeth pulled (got it like a week or so after the operation). Hes had colitis since he was 16 and is now 23. any advice? does it work less well doing it once a week rather than every day? and how long does it take to see more noticeable effects?

Hi Sasha,
The Toronto group is using a very different protocol than I use. At this time I usually suggest ten consecutive days, sometimes followed up by weekly re-infusions. In the UC patients I treat with FMT, those who benefit usually start to see improvement on days 6-8, although sometimes as early as day one or as late as day ten, and of course some people don’t see any benefit.
And of course there’s a 50% chance that your family member is in the control group and is just receiving saline solution infusions instead of fecal slurries.
Best,
Mark Davis, ND

We live in St. Louis, MO. Our amazingly healthy, college scholarship athlete son was diagnosed with severe UC 5 months ago and has already been through the ringer. Six days in the hospital just last week to try and save his colon, which they say was/is “one of the worst cases they have seen”. The kid has lived a very healthy lifestyle, has never drank alcohol, smoked, doesn’t drink soda, healthy eater, etc. I know the doctors are telling us this is genetic and life-long and that it is common to present at age 21, but his illness began right after a long course of antibiotics for mono and walking pneumonia. Does anyone think there is any connection at all? He is currently on so much medicine daily (60 mg pred by mouth, 100 mg pred by enema, & Remicade infusions)… Everything we research tells us that these medicines will not work forever, and are often a cyclical messs. Wondering what the reaction of most GI docs have been to bringing up this fecal procedure–they don’t seem to be too open to alternatives…is it up to us to try and find naturapathic doctors, and who out there has had great success with them? Also, how do you afford it all, even though I know we can’t put a price on health, and we will do what we can for our child….we have six children and are just an average middle-class family.
Thanks so anyone who has input–this has been a new and overwhelming area for our whole family.

Heck yeah I think there’s a potential connection. There’s been quite a few people on this site over the years who have also become ill with UC symptoms and eventually had the same diagnosis after antibiotics, I can think of several stories of young people traveling to Mexico and one was to South America where they came down with food poisioning/stomach bugs and were treated with antibiotics and then afterwards came down with bad UC.

As for GI’s and fecal transplants. Yes indeed, hard to come by the ones which are into it. My GI out here in the east bay of California has recently completed a study on Fecal Transplants for C-diff, and he is very much in favor of it in many situations. As for the treatment of UC, I believe he told me when I asked him a few months ago that there’s still much more research that needs to be conducted. Good news is research is being done on that currently.

Hi Adam, and thanks for everything you do for this community. I just wanted to comment that it could be the gastroenteritis that triggered the UC, not the antibiotics used to treat it, in the cases you mentioned above. Or it could have been the antibiotics, I just wanted to mention that there’s some uncertainty there.

Hi Diana,
Recent research indicates that childhood antibiotics are a risk factor for developing IBD (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23008454), so it certainly seems plausible that antibiotics as a young adult could be a risk factor too. As far as I know, there are only three docs in the UC currently offering FMT for ulcerative colitis; Lawrence Brandt in New York, Alister George in California, and me in Oregon–unfortunately, none of those are too close to you! Drs. Brandt and George are gastroenterologists, and deliver the fecal slurry via colonoscope, which may increase the efficacy. I’m a naturopathic doctor and I deliver via enema, which has delivered pretty great results for about a quarter of the UCers I’ve treated with it. I also have a donor bank, which you probably wouldn’t need in a big family like yours.
If you would like to talk on the phone about your son’s options, you can call 971.800.1368 or email info@brightmedicineclinic.com to schedule a phone consult. I do charge $200 for a phone consult, but if you do FMT at home, it can be very inexpensive after that. I’m also willing to spread payment for any of my fees out over as long as you need, if that helps.
Best wishes,
Mark Davis, ND

1. Is it better to get material from a young child rather than an older adult?

2. If the colon was removed and the small bowel is currently disconnected from the rectum (which is inflamed with Crohn’s Colitis), then does it make sense to transplant the material into the small bowel as well, since a microbiota imbalance there may be what’s setting off the immune system to then attack other tissues (in this case rectum, but in other AI cases could be joints, nerves, etc.)?

3. Do you believe a bacterial imbalance in the small bowel creates leaky gut, which then triggers AI disease? If yes, then would FMT rectify leaky gut?

Hi Richard,
just saw this message.
1. I’ve seen FMT be beneficial for people with UC when using donor material from children and adults.
2. I usually don’t suggest transplanting fecal slurry into the small bowel, but in the case of colectomy and ostomy it could be helpful or could be dangerous! Unknown. If you try it, I suggest you inform your local care providers about what you’re doing and have them monitor you during that time.
3. I think bacterial imbalances in the small bowel are a significant etiology of leaky gut, but I don’t think FMT rectifies leaky gut, since it really just addresses teh large bowel flora.

I’m not so sure that FMT into small intestine doesn’t affect the biota there.
I had FMT into stomach via naso gastric tube. 1.5 hours after, I felt a war going on in my small intestines and then got diarrhea. There’s no way that FMT made it’s way to the large intestine in that short time frame.
My FMT was great for about three weeks, but didn’t hold after I ate something I did not tolerate and got diarrhea again. I think I would have been just fine if I had been further along since treatment. I felt so much better about a week after transplant and had one of my best days in 20 years….now I’m back to feeling crappy since the FDA squashed the transplants until they are approved……

In a recent study by Caltech using Fmt on mice, they found that it corrected leaky gut.
“To see whether these GI symptoms actually influenced the autism-like behaviors, the researchers treated the mice with Bacteroides fragilis, a bacterium that has been used as an experimental probiotic therapy in animal models of GI disorders.
The result? The leaky gut was corrected.”http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131205141900.htm

Hi:
When you contacted the Australian Doctor, did you have to pay for all the e-mails and conversations on the phone? I looked at the web-site of the centre for Digestive Diseases and it seems like they charge everything, just to find out what their services are…is this because they are not regulated by Australian government and the fact that its a private hospital?? It says the treatment approximately cost AUD$12,000 – $15,000 in total for 5 weeks not including accommodation and living expenses or nursing care (yes he does this out-patient), and they charge $200 just to speak with a nurse (not a doctor…), and $3000 for all the consultation on the phone/emails after that!! Why is he so expensive? I wonder what they mean a consultation, does this include just to find out what they do? I would understand when they charge for actual in-hospital consultation or treattment, but I think this doctor in Australia is getting to charge too much for everything.

Has anyone received any medical services from Dr. Borody? I would like to find out more about patient’s actual experience and if their symptoms improved, how he deals with patient. What does he do if you become worse than right now, to the point you require surgery?

I live in Japan and I am very keen on getting the FMT treatment, but as we all know Japan is always behind medical services…they are overly cautious/narrow minded. Does anyone know where a person with UC can get FMT in Japan?
If anyone can share their experience with Dr. Borody as a patient, it will be greatly appreciated.

There are at least three Australian doctors that are finally doing really good research on FMT and Ulcerative colitis. If you are in Sydney this might be an option for you to enroll and it will be free. It looks like a good study
see: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01896635

Hey Bob,
I’ve got no idea about what Kaiser feels on this, would be super interesting to know however since they are the largest healthcare plan/provider provider in the US outside of “Medicare” which isn’t a real “provider”. Anyways, as for the San Fran Bay Area, the doc I see named “Dr. Neil Stollman” who was part of the Fecal transplant Q&A post” here’s the link to that” https://ihaveuc.com/fecal-microbiota-transplant-questions-and-answers/

…well, he’s been involved in fecal transplants for some time. you should read the whole link above first though, as you might get some questions answered about this that you currently have.
best to you fellow Bay Area’er,

Adam – Thanks. I also stumbled across this guy’s name at another site. He’s apparently one of the only, perhaps THE only, MD in the Bay Area who does this procedure. He’s in Oakland. Total cost is between 1500 and 2000 including anesthesia and drugs (he recommends plenty of antibiotics). (Just kidding!!!!) Anyway yeah I’m going in for a consult, it’s been three months, this beast is wearing me down, inch by inch. One person at his office that I spoke to on the phone said they had not gotten referrals from Kaiser but another person, in Billing Dept., said they have gotten one or two such people.

hello
is there a service provider for fecal transplant in houston tx similar to dr mark ??? and has anyone actually got it done from him …would like to share their experience…i am soo interested in it…if thats the cure i will just ignore the Yuk factor !!

Hi Mark,
would love to find out if you have treated any type 2 diabetics. I am considering this treatment to improve my blood sugars. If you have not treated any diabetics would you consider treating them?

Hi Jin,
I haven’t treated any type II diabetics, although there is a study going on now in Nanjing, China studying that very thing (see link below). Since the FDA’s recent new rules on FMT I can only treat people in the context of a clinical trial protocol–I might be submitting a trial for people with type II diabetes in the next year, but I’m not sure. If you’re considering doing it at home and you’d like a consult around that you can make a phone or skype appointment with me at http://brightmedicineclinic.com/bright_medicine/schedule.html.
Best wishes!
Mark

I myself don’t know of someone off the top of my head. But wouldn’t hurt in you making some phone calls to local GI doctors and asking their staff that exact question, and if the answer is no, then ask who they might suggest. Best of luck to you,

Are you still performing the fecal transplant for UC. Me and my family are very interested in traveling to meet with you and have the procedure done for my nephew.
Please contact me if possible to my email address.
Thank you so much!

Thanks a lot for the information. I have been lately on leaky gut and unfortunately am on moderate flare my GI put me on Humira/Budenfalk/ Salofalk and started SCD from zero. But, I only get leaky gut after noon, Do you advise to take L glutamine powder and Probiatics than the FMT at this situation? I will suggest that to my GI when I meet him this time.

How does one qualify to donate? I understand there is a lot of testing of the donor. My daughter and I are interested in more information. She is 12 and has never taken antibiotics, she has hardly been sick in her life and she wants to do something to help others. Please send us some information.

That is very community-minded of your daughter, tell her I applaud her. If she has no chronic disease and tests negative for C diff, parasites, enteric pathogens, HIV, syphilis and viral hepatitis, she could be an eligible donor. If you are in Boston, Portland, Minneapolis or San Diego there are stool banks she could donate to, otherwise there is a website called thePowerofPoo.com where people can be listed as potential donors.

The FDA still has restrictions on who can get a FMT done. Pretty much only having C-Diff.
There are lots of other reason why someone would need an FMT. I know the clinic in Portland has it in an oral pill form, which is AWESOME. It seems that everyone else does it with a colonscopy.

Is anyone aware of a location (closer to the USA) that a FMT can be done without the FDA rules. Such a Mexico or Canada?

Our clinic in Portland is using capsules, but alas, as you mentioned only for C diff. The international locations I refer people to are Newbery Clinic in Buenos Aires and Taymount Clinic in Bahamas and London.

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Thank you again. I look forward to the next iteration of your cook book.

What an amazing resource. It definitely opened my eyes to the world of UC. I love how realistic Adam was about all the different treatments, and the details of the struggles to get to remission. While it definitely wasn’t what I wanted to hear (I think we can all agree it would be nice if we could just wake up and feel better), it was definitely comforting to know I’m not the only one struggling hardcore to get to remission so that I can hopefully control my pancolitis with lifestyle and not medications eventually. The book had me laughing at times and in tears from being able to relate to the struggles. Thank you so much for writing this book. It’s been such a valuable resource in so many ways, including helping me learn ways to share information so my family and friends can have a better understanding of what it’s like. So again, thank you for this Adam. It is a must read for anyone struggling to gather as much information as possible.

I honestly felt like you wrote my biography. I've lived my life the same way you did, eating, drinking and partying without having to worry. I did have signs along the way as well but didn't take to much notice to it until the blood showed up. I was diagnosed in October 2016 and at the time my GI told me it had nothing to do with my diet, so I lived my life the same way I always did. I've been trying many different meds without little or no results. After my 29th birthday in June 2017 I started feeling more sick and the weight loss had started, I've always been a skinny guy and ever since I lost quiet a bit of weight which has been something that just makes me feel more uncomfortable. I consulted a Homeopath in October 2017 and she started me on the Paleo diet, while researching that I came across your site and the SCD diet which I started in December 2017. I didn't do any of the diets a 100%, but I did start seeing results. I went a bit off the rails during the festive season while traveling but I'm easing into the SCD diet again and plan on going 100% this weekend. UC has caused a lot of stress for me but I've come to accept it and look at it in a positive way. My goal is to eat healthy, put some weight back on and start living a normal life again. I haven't let UC stop me from living my life although it has limited me, but thats all going to change! Thank you for sharing your story and being an inspiration to all of us.